Lackluster start dooms Knicks

Minnesota scores 40 in first quarter; New York finds its offense too late

Associated Press

Updated 6:23 am, Monday, November 4, 2013

Photo: Frank Franklin II

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New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony (7) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Dante Cunningham to dunk the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) ORG XMIT: NYK105 less

New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony (7) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Dante Cunningham to dunk the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank ... more

Minnesota took a huge lead after a 40-point first quarter, then pulled away after the Knicks trimmed it to two in the closing minutes to move halfway to matching the 2001-02 team that set the franchise record by winning its first six.

Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks, who have dropped two straight after a season-opening victory and drew some loud boos in the first half while appearing to be standing still on defense.

Anthony shot just 8 of 21. Metta World Peace added 17 points, but the Knicks were too far behind by the time they found any offense.

Minnesota scored the final 11 points of the period to make it 40-19, got the first basket of the second, and took a 64-49 lead into halftime. Tyson Chandler's free throws opened the scoring in the second half, but Minnesota quickly ran off seven straight to reopen a 20-point lead on Martin's 3-pointer with 10:04 remaining in the quarter.

The Knicks finally sustained a run in the fourth, consecutive 3-pointers by Anthony and Iman Shumpert capping a 17-5 surge that cut it to 100-98 with 4:49 left. But Martin made a free throw on a technical foul, then hit a 3-pointer, and Love followed with a jumper to push the lead to 106-98 with 3:19 to play.

Magic 107, Nets 86: Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 12 rebounds as Orlando routed Brooklyn in Jason Kidd's coaching debut for the Nets, following his DUI-related two-game suspension. Magic rookie Victor Oladipo scored 19 points, 14 in the second half, as Orlando won back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 19, 2012. Andrew Nicholson added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 21 points. Paul Pierce was the only other Net to score in double figures with 16 points and he grabbed seven rebounds.

Thunder 103, Suns 96: Kevin Durant had 33 points and 10 rebounds, Russell Westbrook scored 21 points in his return from a knee injury and Oklahoma City overcame a ragged performance to beat Phoenix. Oklahoma City won its fifth straight home opener and defeated Phoenix for the 11th straight time. The Suns last beat Oklahoma City in December 2010. Westbrook, sidelined for six months after first tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the second game of the NBA playoffs, then having a medical setback, returned three to five weeks ahead of the team's previously announced timetable. Eric Bledsoe scored 26 points and had a career-best 14 assists for Phoenix.